Road Not Taken Robert Frost, an American

¶ … Road Not Taken

Robert Frost, an American poet, frequently referenced rural life and nature in his poetry, attempting to define the relationship between himself, or his unnamed narrators, and the world around them. In "The Road Not Taken," Frost explores the options he encounters and ponders the repercussions of the choices that he makes. Furthermore, "The Road Not Taken" explores the individual's relationship not only with nature, but also with himself or herself.

"The Road Not Taken" is one of Frost's more well-known poems and has helped to influence other works of literary art throughout the years. The poem presents the narrator's dilemma in narrative form and is comprised of four stanzas that are written utilizing iambic pentameter. "The Road Not Taken" first appeared in Frost's poetic collection Mountain Interval that was first published in 1916 and republished in 1920.

In the poem, the unnamed narrator is traveling to an unknown destination when he comes upon "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" (line 1). In order to continue on his journey, the narrator must choose which road he is going to take. Assuming that the destination of each road is the same, the narrator has the option of taking either road as they will both lead him to where he is supposed to go. However, the narrator's inquisitive and explorative nature lead him to feel saddened by the fact that he does not have time nor the opportunity to take both roads. The narrator states, that he was "sorry [he] could not travel both" (line 2). Because the narrator only has the opportunity to travel down one road, he must choose which road he will travel wisely. In order to determine which road he will take, he must carefully study both roads; the narrator begins to study the roads, and because he is only one person, he "looked down one as far as [he] could/To where it bent in the undergrowth" (lines 4-5). The narrator also visually examines the other road so that he can make a fair assessment and compare the roads on an equal plane. The narrator notes that the other road was "just as fair/And having perhaps the better claim/Because it was grassy and wanted wear" (line 8). The narrator also states that though the second road was grassier and "wanted wear," both roads were equally defined and that passersby "had worn them really about the same/And both that morning equally lay/In leaves no step had trodden black" (lines 10-12). The narrator notices that though both paths have been taken, there is no evidence that any person has ever come back on the same road that they initially chose to travel. Taking this observation into consideration, the narrator knows that the choice he makes will be the only road that he will have to opportunity to travel and states that he "doubted if [he] should ever come back" (line 15). The narrator also acknowledges that the decision that he makes now will affect him for the rest of his life and that he will one day recount the experience and will "be telling this with a sigh/Somewhere ages and ages hence" (line 16-17). The narrator does not regret the decision he made, by choosing the "one less traveled by" claiming that his choice, and the journey he experienced by taking the less traveled road "has made all the difference" (line 20).

"The Road Not Taken" is rife with symbolism and metaphors that reflect the narrator's, and Frost's, general beliefs about life. One can analyze the poem and determine that the roads in the poem are representative of the choices a person has to make in their lives. The destination of both roads can be assumed to be the fulfillment of an individual's goals and an individual's inescapable death. Regardless of which life path the narrator chooses, the end result will be a person's death; this death is not necessarily a tragic or violent occurrence, but rather the culmination and end of a person's life. The roads in the poem are exemplifications of the options and the decisions an individual is encountered with as they travel along the journey of life. Like the narrator, individuals must choose how they are going to live their lives; they can either take the easy, well-worn path that many individuals have comfortably taken or they can choose to fight against what is known or choose to explore and make their own way through life. The road that is most traveled can be representative of choosing to coast through life on the accomplishments of others and not have to worry about impact that the individual may have on their surroundings, whereas the road that has been less traveled, may prove to be more difficult, but the rewards will be greater and an individual's accomplishments may prove to be worthy of praise. "The Road Not Taken" is a prime example of Frost's exploration of individualism. In individualism, independence and self-reliance are promoted and the pursuance of one's individual goals is encouraged and praised. In the poem, the unnamed narrator is confronted with the choice of what path he is going to take and ultimately chooses the "one less traveled by" (line 19).